Two men walked into the Dearborn Police Department on Feb. 5, one of them openly carrying a rifle slung over his shoulder, the other with a video camera and tripod.

Chaos ensued.

Both men, 41-year-old Brandon Vreeland of Jackson and 24-year-old James C. Baker of Leonard, were immediately ordered to the ground, handcuffed and arrested, even though their attorneys say it's completely legal to open carry firearms in a Michigan police station.

A jury on Friday, July 7 convicted both men of illegally carrying a concealed weapon, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, but not due to their actions at the police station, said attorney James J. Makowski, who represents Baker.

Wayne County prosecutors instead used video recorded by the defendants to incriminate them for illegally concealing a firearm prior to the incident with police.

Baker was "tripped up on the silliest of technicalities," said Makowski, who's "very confident" both carrying a concealed weapon convictions will be dismissed on appeal.

The jury ruled Baker wasn't guilty on charges of brandishing a firearm, nor disturbing the peace.

The same jury, however, convicted Vreeland of misdemeanor disturbing the peace and resisting arrest, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Video seized by police showed Baker placing his rifle in the trunk of Vreeland's vehicle some time prior to them entering the police station.

Although Makowski said the weapon was unloaded and locked in the trunk, as required by Michigan law, it wasn't clear if it was also in a gun case, which is yet another requirement to transport a gun in a vehicle without a concealed pistol license.

But Makowski further argues Baker legally should have had a valid concealed pistol license at the time, which would make the manner of transporting the gun legal.

Baker obtained a CPL license in early 2015, but was later charged with disturbing the peace resulting from his involvement in an open-carry march in Wayne County. His CPL was revoked while the case proceeded.

The charges were later dismissed and Makowski says the CPL should have been immediately reinstated in August 2015.

Baker and Vreeland, described by some as provocateurs, are known open-carry advocates who have participated in marches that involve openly carrying firearms in public with the goal of educating residents and police about Second Amendment rights.

A Wayne County judge agreed with Makowski and dismissed the carrying a concealed weapons charges against both Baker and Vreeland, but Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office appealed -- Makowski called it a legal "Hail Mary" -- and won when newly appointed Wayne Circuit Judge Mariam S. Bazzi reinstated the charges, Makowski says.

Attorney Nicholas Somber, who represents Vreeland, said that under Michigan law, because his client believed he was a CPL holder at the time, he was transporting his rifle in accordance with the law.

On Feb. 5, Baker was wearing a military-style rifle slung across his shoulder, a side arm and a balaclava mask when he and Vreeland, who was unarmed and operating camera equipment, walked into the Dearborn Police Department.

Officers confronted them with guns drawn. Baker was ordered to put down his weapons and an officer threatened to shoot him.